Tanzania has launched its Trade information Portal which is expected to boost intra-regional trade in East Africa as well as the region’s share of international trade.
The Tanzania Trade Information Portal was launched during the Saba Saba International Trade Fair held in the East African nation’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, by Zanzibar’s Minister for Trade and Industry Development, Hon. Said Omar Shabani, assisted by Hon. Exaud Silaoneka Kigahe (MP), Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade.
The Trade Information Portals (TIPS) map out all Imports, Exports and Transit Procedures, fees and time. The next step after mapping is to simply remove unnecessary and redundant bottlenecks.
Trade Information Portals are now operational in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The Burundi TIP is still under development and is expected to be launched on 23rd July, 2021. The South Sudan Trade Information portal will be developed later.
Hon. Shabani underscored the importance of the Trade Information Portal and how it can help traders to get right and accurate information on how to export, import and transit goods.
In his remarks, the Director General of TanTrade, H.E. Ambassador Edwin N. Rutageruka, urged the private sector, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to exploit the opportunity availed to them by the TIP to grow their businesses by tapping into new markets.
In remarks read on his behalf by the EAC Regional Coordinator for the TIP Project, Mr. Munyampundu Evariste, EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki hailed the United Republic of Tanzania for her efforts to facilitate trade.
Dr. Mathuki said that the newly launched TIP would have a positive impact on intra-EAC trade and international Trade.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Policy, Research. Advocacy and Lobbying at the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), Mr. Andrew Mahiga, said that the TIP would make trade more transparent and pledged that the TPSG membership shall make use of the portal to increase intra-regional and international trade.
The EAC Trade information Portals are accessible through https://tradehelpdesk.eac.int
